Preface:
Inthisworld,weallcraverecognition,admiration,andvalidation.Weallwanttofeelspecialandsignificantintheeyesofothers.However,inourpursuitofexternalapproval,weoftenforgettoappreciateourselvesandacknowledgeourownworth.Webecomedependentontheopinionsandreactionsofothers,andwelosetouchwithourinnervoicesandvalues.Thisstoryisaboutapersonwholearnedthislessonthehardway,throughaseriesofeventsthatchallengedtheiregoandrevealedtheirtruenature.Onceuponatime,therewasayoungmannamedJack,whowasknownforhistalentandcharm.Hehadaknackforsinging,acting,andwriting,andhelovedtoperforminfrontofcrowds.Hewouldoftenparticipateintalentshows,competitions,andevents,wherehewouldshowcasehisskillsandbaskintheapplauseoftheaudience.Heenjoyedtheattentionandadorationhereceived,andhefeltlikeastar.Oneday,JackwasinvitedtoauditionforafamousTVshowthatwouldfeaturethebesttalentsfromaroundtheworld.Hewasthrilledattheprospectofbecominganationalsensationandwinningthegrandprize.Hepracticeddayandnight,perfectinghisvoiceandmoves,andvisualizedhimselfonthestagereceivingastandingovation.Hewasconfidentthathewouldimpressthejudgesandtheviewersandmakehisdreamscometrue.
Thedayoftheauditionarrived,andJackwasnervousbutexcited.Hedressedinhisbestoutfit,tookadeepbreath,andenteredthestudiowheredozensofotheraspiringperformerswerewaiting.Hesawpeopleofallages,backgrounds,andstyles,someofwhomseemedmoretalentedoruniquethanhim.Hefeltapangofdoubtandinsecurity,buthequicklybrusheditasideandfocusedonhisownperformance.WhenJack'sturncame,hesteppedonthestage,smiledatthecameras,andstartedtosinghisheartout.Hechoseapopularsongthatheknewwellandaddedhisowntwistsandturnstoit.Hedanced,jumped,andinteractedwiththeaudience,hopingtocapturetheirattentionandaffection.Hesanghisfinalnote,struckapose,andwaitedforthejudges'response.Tohissurpriseanddisappointment,thejudgesdidnotseemimpressed.Theygavehimafewpolitecommentsandcriticisms,butnothingthathecoulduseasapositivefeedback.Theypointedouthisflaws,mistakes,andlackoforiginality,andsuggestedthatheneededmorepracticeandcreativity.Jackfeltawaveofshockandangerwashoverhim.Howcouldtheynotseehistalentandpotential?Howcouldtheydismisshimlikethat?Ashewalkedoffthestage,Jackheardsomemurmursfromtheaudience.Somepeoplewereclapping,otherswerebooing,andafewwereshoutinginsults.Hefeltlikehewasinanightmare,whereeverythingwentwrongandeveryonewasagainsthim.Hewantedtodisappearorlashout,butheknewhehadtokeephiscoolandsaveface.
Aftertheaudition,Jackwenthomefeelingdejectedanddefeated.Hereplayedthesceneinhishead,tryingtofindflawsinthejudges'judgmentsandexcusesforhisownfailures.Heblamedhimselffornotbeinggoodenough,buthealsoblamedothersfornotrecognizinghistalent.Hefeltlikehehadlosthisidentityandpurpose.Daysturnedintoweeks,andJackfoundhimselfsinkingintoadeepdepression.Hestoppedsinging,acting,andwritingaltogether.Hestoppedsocializing,goingout,andexploringnewthings.Heisolatedhimselffromtheworldandfromhisownemotions.Hebecameashadowofhisformerself,aghostofhisowndreams.Oneday,asJackwaswanderingaimlesslyinapark,heheardastrangesound.Itwasafaintechoofclapping,comingfromsomewherenearby.Hefollowedthesound,curiousandconfused,untilhereachedasmallamphitheater,whereagroupofchildrenwererehearsingforaplay.Theywereclappingtheirhands,singing,dancing,andlaughing,asiftheywerehavingthetimeoftheirlives.Jackstoodthere,watchingthechildrenwithamixtureofenvyandadmiration.Herememberedhowheusedtofeelwhenhewastheirage,fullofjoyandwonder,withoutacareintheworld.Hewonderedifhehadlostthatsenseofinnocenceandspontaneityalongtheway,inhispursuitoffameandglory.
Suddenly,oneofthechildrennoticedhimandwavedathim.Jackhesitatedforamoment,thenapproachedthegroup,feelingawkwardandoutofplace.Thechildrenwelcomedhimwarmly,askinghimifhewantedtojointheirplay.Jackwashesitantatfirst,butthenhefeltasparkofcuriosityandexcitement.Heagreedtoparticipateintheplay,whichwasasimplestoryaboutfriendshipandadventure.Thechildrengavehimaroletoplay,whichwasthatofawiseoldmanwhowouldguidethemontheirjourney.Jackfelthonoredtobechosen,butalsonervousabouthisperformance.Hehadnotactedinalongtime,andhewasafraidhewoulddisappointthechildren.Therehearsalbegan,andJackfoundhimselfimmersedinthemagicoftheplay.Helistenedtothechildren'slines,watchedtheirmovements,andaddedhisowntouchestohisrole.Hespokeinadeep,soothingvoice,usingwordsofwisdomandhumor.Hemadethechildrenlaughandsmile,andhefeltasenseofconnectionandpurposehehadnotfeltinalongtime.Attheendoftherehearsal,thechildrenapplaudedhim,thankinghimforhisperformance.Jackwassurprisedandtouchedbytheirgesture.Hehadnotexpectedthemtoappreciatehimsomuch,especiallysincehehadnotdoneanythingspecial.Hefeltasurgeofgratitudeandjoyinhisheart,andherealizedthathehadbeenlookingforapplauseinthewrongplaces.
Hestartedtocometotherehearsalsregularly,andsoonhebecameapartofthegroup.Hehelpedthemwiththeirlines,costumes,andprops,andhealsotaughtthemsomenewskills.Hesharedhispassionforsinging,acting,andwriting,buthealsolearnedfromthechildren'screativity,spontaneity,andinnocence.Oneday,thechildrenaskedhimtoperformasongforthem.Jackhesitatedatfirst,feelingself-consciousandnervous.Butthenherememberedthelessonhehadlearnedfromthejudges'feedback,thatheneededmorepracticeandcreativity.Hedecidedtochallengehimselfandwriteanewsongforthechildren.Hespentawholenightwritingandcomposingthesong,pouringhisheartandsoulintoit.Heusedhisownexperienceofself-discoveryandhumilityasthethemeofthesong.Hewroteabouthowhehadbeenseekingapplausefromothers,buthadfounditwithinhimselfandinthecompanyofthechildren.Hesangabouthowhehadlearnedtoappreciatehisownworthandacknowledgehisownflaws.Thenextday,hewenttotherehearsalwithhisguitarandperformedthesongforthechildren.Theylistenedtohimattentively,andthentheystartedtoclaptheirhands,firstsoftly,thenlouderandlouder.Jackfeltasurgeofemotionasheheardtheirapplause.Herealizedthatthistime,itwasnotjustasignofappreciation,butalsoavalidationofhisowngrowthandtransformation.
Hethankedthechildrenandhuggedthem,feelingasenseofbelongingandlove.Herealizedthathehadfoundanewpurposeinlife,thatofsharinghistalentsandhislessonswithothers,andlearningfromthemaswell.Healsorealizedthathedidnotneedexternalapplausetofeelgoodabouthimself,butthathecouldcreatehisownechoesofself-applause,byacknowledginghisownworthandbyembracinghisownflaws.TheTVshowauditionscameandwent,butJackdidnotapplyforthemagain.Herealizedthathewasnolongerseekingexternalvalidationorrecognition,butthathewashappywithhisnewroleasamentorandafriend.Hecontinuedtoperformwiththechildren,andalsostartedtoteachthemsomenewskills.Hefeltasenseofpurposeandfulfillmentthathehadneverfeltbefore.Yearspassed,andJackgrewold,butheremainedactiveandpassionate.Hecontinuedtosing,act,andwrite,butnowhediditforhimselfandforthepeopleheloved.Healsobecameamentortomanyotheraspiringperformers,sharinghiswisdomandexperiencewiththem.Heknewthathehadfoundhistruecallinginlife,notintheapplauseofothers,butintheechoesofself-applause.
